ice!"

Sylvia was very much puzzled. Why should M. Polperro be so unwilling to
seek the help of the law in so simple a matter as this?

"I will go myself," she said.

And just then--they were standing in the hall together--the Comte de
Virieu came up.

"What is it you will do yourself, Madame?" he asked, smiling.

Sylvia turned to him eagerly.

"I feel that I should like to speak to the police about Anna Wolsky," she
exclaimed. "It is the first thing one would do in England if a friend
suddenly disappeared--in fact, the police are always looking for people
who have gone away in a mysterious manner. You see, I can't help being
afraid, Count Paul"--she lowered her voice--"that Anna has met with some
dreadful accident. She hasn't a friend in Paris! Suppose she is lying now
in some hospital, unable to make herself understood? I only wish that I
had a photograph of Anna that I could take to them."

"Well, there is a possibility that this may be so. But remember it is
even more probable that Madame Wolsky is quite well, and that she will be
annoyed at your taking any such step to find her."

"Yes," said Sylvia, slowly. "I know that is quite possible. And yet--and
yet it is so very unlike Anna not to send me a word of explanation! And
then, you know in that letter she left in her room at the Pension Malfait
she positively promised to send a telegram about her luggage. Surely it
is very strange that she has not done that?"

"Well, if you really wish the police communicated with," said the Comte
de Virieu, "I will go to the police-station here, with pleasure."

"Why should we not go together?" asked Sylvia, hesitatingly.

"By all means. But think over what we are to say when we get there. If
your friend had not left the letter behind her, then, of course it would
be our positive duty to communicate with the police. But I cannot help
being afraid--" He stopped abruptly.

"Of what are you afraid?" asked Sylvia eagerly.

"I am afraid that Madame Wolsky may be very much offended by your
interference in the matter."

"Oh, no!" cried Sylvia. "Indeed, in that you are quite mistaken! I know
Anna would never be offended by anything I could do. She was very fond of
me, and so am I of her. But in any case I am willing to risk it. You
see"--her voice broke, quivered--"I am really very unhappy about Anna--"

"When would you like to go to the Commissioner of Police?" asked the
Count.

"Is there any reason why we should not